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1) England 2 West Germany 3 - World Cup Quarter Final - Mexico 1970

2-0 up, 3-2 down. When England lost this World Cup Quarter Final as defending champions it was a huge disappointment. Little did we know at the time that from this night on England would regularly lose knockout matches at major tournaments right at the death. It has become a life sentence. This match was the birth of England as the perennial big tournament quarter finalists and is therefore top of the list.

2) England v Australia - Ashes Tour 2006-07

Sporting loss and English cricket go hand in hand. England travel to Australia as Ashes winners, lose the series mentally before it starts and are subsequently humiliated on the pitch. The collapse and defeat at Adelaide is one of the most embarrassing episodes in the history of British sport.

3) Henman vs Ivanisevic - Wimbledon semi-final 2001

2001 was Henman's best chance to win Wimbledon, but it was not to be. Was it the rain that denied Tim on that weekend? I think Tiger Tim was always destined to be a great British sporting loser. It doesn't have to be this way. Nick Faldo's famous golfing victory over Greg Norman at the 1996 Masters shows that Britain does not equal loser. Unlike Tim, Nick Faldo is not a favourite of the British sporting establishment - maybe he has too much of a winning mentality.

4) England 1 West Germany 1 (Germany win 4-3 on penalties) - World Cup semi-final - 1990

After the wilderness years of the 1970's and early 1980's, England finally look the part. They were undone by what is becoming our trademark failure at the final hurdle. It is England's first major penalty shoot out failure. 1990 could have been a historic year for English football, but we just have Gazza's tears as a lasting memory.

5) England 1 Brazil 2 - World Cup quarter final - 2002

One of the most infuriating matches of all time. England have a decent team, playing a mediocre Brazilian side in a very average World Cup. The best chance to win the trophy since 1966. Beckham dithers, Seaman flaps and it's all over. Let's move on.

6) Devon Loch - Grand National - 1956